full circle

Last week was really busy and exciting for me because I went on a sudden series of interviews and got news last Friday that a really great company wanted to offer me a job :) I more than happily accepted so soon I'll be a busy little working bee again!! It's only been about a month since I've been out of school but I'm ready to tackle the working world again after having a few months just being a student.

In other news, I'm excited to share with you guys a new restaurant that I visited this past week, not once, but twice!! Once for a late night dinner and once for Sunday brunch. Yes - it was that tasty :)

MACONDO round one

I've walked by this place several times since it opened not too long ago and the boy suggested last week that we go here for a late night supper since its small tapas style dishes are perfect for late night munching and crunching.

We shared a carafe of the acai + ron cocktail which is made of pomegranate, acai juice, bacardi razz rum, sprite, and mint. So sweet and refreshing - perfect to complement the heat of a lot of these dishes.

Vieras con toronja: ceviche made of bay scallops, wasabi oil, grapefruit ginger citrus sauce, sliced potatoes, onions

Patatas bravas: crispy potatoes with a spicy chili sauce. This sauce was REALLY good. I want to buy a bottle to dip all my french fries in this.

Skate raya: skate tacos. The corn tortilla was really the highlight of this taco. I kept biting pieces of the tortilla all by itself because it was really that good.

Tuna bonita: tuna flatbread with goat cheese, tomatoes, red onion, capers, and olive. The boy really liked this one.

MACONDO round two

Second time around, we both wanted to try some of the sandwiches on their menu because we saw a lot of people ordering them at night. I got the roasted eggplant sandwich "de berenjena" with tomatoes, roasted red peppers, goat cheese, baby spinach, and tapenada.

De chimichurri chico: short ribs, peppers, manchego cheese, green cabbage, and onions. heart attack on a bun ;)

Some of you asked me about yucca fries last time I wrote about how much I love them - everywhere I go, they have a different take on how they are cut and I think that really affects the final taste. Just like french fries! The way they serve them at Macondo is exactly how I like it. Slightly thick and approximately finger length. Yucca root has a really hearty texture that is not as flaky as a potato so it has a harder and chewier bite to it. I also think it withstands high heat better than a potato does, it doesn't wilt or get mushy when it's fried.

Bloody Marias - be warned: these are POTENT. I walked out of this restaurant deliriously giggly post brunch after having one of these bad boys hehe.

We were walking around on Orchard for a while after brunch, enjoying the beautiful weather when we spotted this ridiculous line to get into an American Apparel factory sale. Don't get me wrong - I love a tri-blend AA raglan just as much as the next girl/boy but really? these people were waiting for an hour to get cheap tshirts and leggings. hmmm... The AA Factory flea market going on in LA during the July 4th holiday weekend however, sounds a lot cooler. If you buy a ticket, you can jump the line, get a free taco at the BBQ, and you get a gift card to shop in the stores. Sounds like a goooood deal to me!

Adorable quirky bench in front of Pixie Market

This park was so alive that afternoon, with crazy screaming kids running around the playground and around this water fountain. The highlight though was this black lab who was having the time of his life ferociously trying to eat the water that was spewing out of this thing.

It was also kind of my mini mission yesterday to find a bike to take a photo with to enter the Topshop Bicycle giveaway because how perfect would it be for this bikeless New Yorker to finally get my hands on a bike! I kept trying to get down to Topshop during their free bike rental week to take one on a spin but the weather gods decided they didn't want me to go outside. If you want to help me (and Meeko because let's face it, if I get a bike I am going to get a basket to put him in) win a bike, you can check out my Chictopia profile here and vote :)

Outfit details: Reformation top, Lace slip dress, Marc Jacobs knee socks, vintage saddle shoes, Chanel 2.55, Chloé aviators.

Spotted this inside an antiques market (now this would be a bike giveaway on a totally different level! This one's for you pretty lady!

The weather has been picking up these days (thank god) but the clouds at night recently have been absolutely breathtaking.

I also wanted to thank you guys for all the sweet comments you leave me! It's become a ritual now of mine to wake up every morning and read them so it's always a great way to start the day. Hope everyone has a good week!! xxo


grey skies

Seriously guys, I've lived in new york for years and I have never experienced prolonged weather like this. Where is the sun? Why is it so humid? Why is the weather still in the 60s? I could really use a quick beach getaway and recharge in the sun for a week. Things are a bit topsy turvy I tell you - global warming and climate change, it's happening guys :( I have a very bad feeling this is just the beginning. sigh. This really explains the slow down in posts on my end, hard to find inspiration in such drab June weather, which is normally a month that redeems New York for the horrid winters we suffer through!

These photos were taken on a day out in the meatpacking district and Chelsea, where we did a bit of browsing through the shops, had lunch at Chelsea market, and enjoyed some perusing around the art galleries in the area.

This type of wall art has been popping up all around the city - anyone know who's responsible for it? (p.s. how gorgeous is Angelina Jolie?!?)

"why hello albert!!"

we made fast friends. i always did love me some n.e.r.d.

I loved how louis is carrying a louis. lol - cheeky.

Chelsea Market is what I'd like to call, a food mall, that also happens to be home to the Food Network!! You can walk all around the first floor and eat at random restaurants, bakeries, and cafes, and also do some light grocery shopping at specialty food stores.

We came here to have lunch and I picked up a sandwich at Amy's Bread. Brie and apples on walnut bread. So yummy.

Sesame Street cupcakes!!

There's a really great Italian specialty food store in here that sells a crazy assortment of imported things from Italy: pastas, aged meats, cheese, olive oil, spreads, chocolate, the works!

I loved how this nutella was in a little glass jar, not plastic like the ones they normally sell in the states. Who doesn't like a good ol' slab of nutella on some hot crunchy toast.

They also had a lot of candied fruit! toto, I don't think we're in kansas anymore!

Another amazing shop to visit here is the Lobster Place - so much good fish to pick from and so fresh!!!

I'm definitely going to have to come back here and buy some goods to make a crawfish boil, southern style ;)

Best Obama propaganda, hands down. from Eleni's bakery

On our way to the galleries, we stopped by the newly opened High Line park, which is being built over the site of an old railroad. Only a little bit of it is open right now, but I can imagine once it's completely finished, it'll be a beautiful place to take a long walk!

You can see the Chelsea piers so well here - I love how the park overlooks the street!

Stadium seating is also something I've been seeing a lot of throughout the city recently - have any of you guys sat at the random stadium seating area of the newly renovated Juilliard building?

This building is so breathtakingly organic.

Being so high above the street made us eye level to second stories of decrepit old buildings. How weird is this window!?

I wore out my new vintage bling bling necklace with the usual chains. I kind of love how it's so pageantry.

Outfit details: Peeps dress, H&M lace tights over AA tights, Alexander Wang leather vest, Miu Miu boots, Chloé bag.

The outdoor garden of the Jim Kempner fine art gallery. I'd love to be greeted by something like this daily upon homecoming.